Longing for Peace

December 21 was the day chosen by my wife’s doctor and her, the day for her c-section and the birth of our third child.  It was on a Monday morning at the small hospital eight miles from our home.  You would think that by the birth of our third child, we would have had the routine down pat, but there are always some unexpected surprises.  And December always seems crazy around our house.

We got up very early on the appointed day.  We took our two young children to the family in our church who had offered to watch them.  I drove my wife to the hospital, arriving at five am.  At that time of day, the hospital seemed quiet and peaceful.  They began to prep my wife for the c-section, and I left the hospital room.  There’s not much to do in a small, rural hospital at 5:30 am.  So I started walking slowly down the hallway.  One patient room’s door was open, and the clock radio came on, playing that old, familiar carol, “Silent Night, Holy Night.”

Many years have passed since that day.  The baby born on that December day is now a young adult living in another city.  For most of those 20-plus years, I took peace for granted.  But in recent years, there doesn’t seem to be much peace in our world.  War is always going on somewhere.  Another family is falling apart, leaving the children to be carted from home to home.  Any peace seems just temporary, until another storm, another conflict, another disaster happens.  

Lately, I find myself longing for peace, for real, lasting peace.

Isaiah 9:6-7 promises, 

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
         Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
⁷ Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.

If you too long for genuine lasting peace during this Advent season, turn to the One who is the Prince of Peace.  Isaiah promised that there were be no end to his peace.  There is no place else in this world to turn to, for real, lasting peace.  So turn to the only One who can bring you such peace. 

An Advent youtube: on renewing a life of prayer.

I met Kirianne at a conference last month & thought this is a great Advent reminder - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wRENUH-mxC4 

Advent usually makes the Martha part of me stronger, but God keeps sending msg's like this one & messengers like this one.

Will You Say Yes to God?

“’I am the Lord’s servant,’ Mary answered. ‘May your word to me be fulfilled.’”  (Luke 1:38)

“When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife.”  (Matthew 1:24)

It must have taken real faith for Mary, probably a teenager, to agree to bear Jesus, knowing that her fiancé could cast her aside, and the world would shun her as an unwed mother.  It must have taken just as much faith for Joseph to accept a bride who was pregnant with a child that wasn’t his, knowing that people would mock him for being with a disgraced woman.

While Mary and Joseph’s position in society was low, their position in God’s plan was great.  They played their roles well, not because of any skill or expertise they had, but simply because they had said yes to God and allowed God to carry them through.

Is it any different for us?  We may see ourselves as ordinary, with no special gifts to offer to God.  In fact, we may see ourselves as of little use to God.  But Mary and Joseph show us that God isn’t looking for someone with outstanding talent, money, power, or ability.  God is looking for a person who simply says yes to Him and follows His will in faith.

The question is, are you such a person?  Whatever God is asking you to accept, will you respond by saying, “No, Lord, this is too hard.  I can’t do it.  Make it easier.”  Or will you say, “Yes, Lord, I’ll persevere through hard times because I trust you to see me through them the way you saw Mary and Joseph through their challenges. 

Answering yes isn’t always easy, but we can be confident that God’s Holy Spirit will strengthen us and protect us.  Will you say yes to God?